The NFL is a team game and many teams, including the Carolina Panthers, believe in “next man up.” The hope is that if a player is lost for an extended period of time the players behind him can fill their shoes.
However, this isn’t always the case. While some of these players may not receive national recognition, their presence on this team, and on the field on Sundays, can be the deciding factor between a win and a loss.
By looking at what the player brings to the team, as well as the depth behind them, these are our rankings for the five most indispensable players for the Carolina Panthers in 2017.